New heating prices will be announced in July. A price increase is expected for the production of thermal power plants using natural gas.

Nearly 70 per cent of all heating providers in Bulgaria use natural gas, mediapool.bg reported. The price increase will reach as much as eight per cent.

It is possible for heating in some cities to become cheaper, chair of the State Energy and Water Regulatory Committee Konstantin Shushulov said.

Electricity is expected to become more expensive in October, Shushulov said.

The three majority owners of the seven electricity distribution companies in Bulgaria already announced their plans for increasing electricity prices.

CEZ, the Czech company owner of the Sofia and Pleven electricity suppliers requested a 6.9 per cent price increase. The German E.ON offered the same price scheme. The Austrian EVN, owner of the Plovdiv and Stara Zagora electricity companies, demanded an 8.5 per cent increase.

The October electricity price hike would be minimal, Shushulov said. A higher increase could be expected in January 2007, after the closure of Kozlodui nuclear power plant reactors, said he.